So, I think it’s safe to say that the writers of the Bad Batch are among the laziest writers out there (along with many others in American comics and Hollywood). Why do I say that? Episode 14 of Bad Batch is why. See, “War Hammer” is number 14 out of a 16 episode order and just now developing any sort of actual plot.
It’s the content we should have gotten…
…all the way back in the beginning of the series.
I know there’s a group of kids on here who are of the belief that storytelling is word vomiting anything they think up.
I’m here to tell you it’s not.
Storytelling is multi-faceted. Things like show (emotion) v tell (thoughts) exist for a reason. Characterization, balance, depth, consistency, logic. They’re all part of it, too. There’s a basic formula in writing: igniter, build-up into a mini-conflict (revelation/battle/crisis), aftermath, build to final conflict, and resolution.
You can even take the advice from one writer blurb I found on Pinterest: figure out what your character wants and deny them it.
Episode 14 is what we’d call mid-season finale worthy because it was built to a crisis that leads into the final conflict. The episode is good at face value… it just needed a two-part arc, the first focused on Gregor and his decision to “defect” while revealing how he was brought to Daro and why. We also needed some backstory on how Rex knows Gregor since I recall Gregor was listed as KIA (twice technically) and was never involved with the 501st. We needed to get something that ties the two together and make it the reason why Rex sends the BB to rescue him.
Again, this is where lazy, inconsistent writing shows itself.
In a show that is streamlined as the Bad Batch (meaning about THEM and not Rebel characters or unnecessary Clone Wars ones), every episode needs to build on the igniter debuted in episode one (C-99 finding themselves as fugitives in a post-Republic galaxy). Them seeking out Cut worked because it showed how quickly things were changing (even though too much focus was on Omega). The Cut episode built on the previous one by showing how C-99 were in unfamiliar terrain and having to figure out things like acquiring food and making repairs (things they took for granted in the Republic era since it was all handled for them). From there we got filler episodes that only marginally built on the igniter (Shand kidnapping Omega was a waste of an episode, sorry).
Tarkin and Admiral Rampart putting Crosshair in command of a new unit of conscripted soldiers and sent to Onderon to wipe out Gerrera's camp could have been the episode where Gregor was introduced to parallel the conscripted troopers and deepen the motives of Rampart. Building on the threat looming over the galaxy. The chips could have been explored with consistency and logic, giving them actual purpose instead of lazy plot convenience.
Some will say Shand was necessary to lead the group to Cid but it could have been achieved by the simple means of them needing to know if they were being hunted by the Empire after what happened on Saleucami (opening the door to revealing Omega had a bounty but not them). This also builds on Omega and creates suspicion about why she’s being hunted and not them (character development).
Now, I like Cid. I think her being tough on them is a good thing. They are soldiers trying to figure out a world Cid already knows and understands. She’s not going to coddle them, however. She makes them get out there and work. That’s how people like her survive, after all. However, we had far too many episodes of the same rinse/repeat cycle with little build of any main sort of plot (no, Omega and her dad-relationship with Hunter is not a plot, sorry to disappoint you folks).
Decommissioned, Battle Scars, and Reunion should have floated into this episode about Gregor. Led into Hunter’s capture and the BB having to figure out how to get him back (opening the door to Rex returning). Why? Because everything until now built into this specific moment. It’s the resolution of a conflict while building a new one (story progression).
From there, we could have had Shand and Cad Bane show up to kidnap Omega, forcing the remaining BB to scramble and rescue her (and actually rescue her, not her outsmarting Bane and Shand and saving herself) while diverting them away from going after Hunter. Again, two-episode arc that plays to Bane and Shand’s skills and abilities. The remaining three BB members would find themselves struggling without Hunter and having to utilize new skills and techniques to outsmart these two bounty hunters (yanno, character development).
All the while this is going on we get Crosshair and Hunter locked in a battle of wills, the Empire cancelling the Kaminoan contracts and the Kaminoans planning an evacuation, finding out who and what Omega is, and the eventual finale where something big happens (my suspicion is a character death). All of it culminating in a compelling, action-packed, drama-infused epic that is centered around the characters who make up the marquee at the show opening.
People will tell me I don’t have a clue about what I’m talking about. That me talking about storytelling shows my “elitism.” I leave you with this because this arc is one of the best examples out there of quality storytelling:
This arc describes everything I mentioned above about storytelling being a journey. It’s the hallmark of good writing. It’s a compelling story rich with development and character moments that live on after the credits roll.
I had to Wikipedia the Bad Batch because of how forgettable most of the show has been.
That’s not good for a story.
